The Battle is On

[Texasmark]

We've been yakin about what to do about your fuel in your fuel tank over the winter the last few days.

So I hear that Sta-Bil has a new Marine preservative. I have been using Sea Foam for about a year now, in every internal combustion engine I own and I own all types out there.

You be the judge. Interested in your comments.

Sea Foam has their own site, just www the name.

Sta-bil is a Globe Eagle product. www them and you can get a home page which Marine Sta-Bil is in the upper right hand corner.

One of the most significant problems of fuels of today seems to be water absorption, and not just the corrosion it could cause, but the fact that water doesn't combust in the combustion chamber of internal combustion engines. It may clean them up nice and shiny, but there are no BTU's to produce power at the prop.

You tell me (and everyone else dialing in) which one you think takes care of this best.

Mark

 

[JB]

Re: The Battle is On

The correct solution for water that has been absorbed, then seperates is a water seperating fuel filter.

Seafoam and Stabil are intended to deal with other fuel problems.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: The Battle is On

I use Stabil and a water separating filter. No problems so far...

 

[dingbat]

Re: The Battle is On

I've got to agree with the other two responses. I have a 92 and a 54 gallon tank on the boat. I use Stabil and water separating filters and have never had a water problem.

 

[rndn]

Re: The Battle is On

Used Stabil for years along with a water separating fuel filter. Never had the need to try Sea Foam as I've always been pleased with Stabil.

 

[JRJ]

Re: The Battle is On

I have a spin-on water separating filter. I've never used Stabil or Sea Foam in anything. I do use Chevron gasoline.

 

[Laddies]

Re: The Battle is On

I'm with JRJ good fuel and a water seperater, that other stuff is all hype and in most cases used for purposes that it was never intended for.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: The Battle is On

Thanks guys. Sounds like reasonable solutions to me.

On Sea Foam, I was introduced to it on here. I have used it in everything I own since. Guarantee you it does my engines good. But I have not used it in attempting to control moisture. I agree with the separation filter that my diesel tractors must have.

There is another post similar to this I just responded to. Guess "tis the season" to discuss the subject of winterization and preserving fuel.

Mark

 

[dingbat]

Re: The Battle is On

A good article to read on water in gasoline

www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/rfg/waterphs.pdf

 

[tommays]

Re: The Battle is On

I found with OLD MTBE fuel the water sepator would work like it should and i could suck any water from the bottom of the tank pretty easy


I find with the NEW fuel the water stays blended with the fuel and passes through the filter


But the only real harm i have read about is when the water reachs its MAX the fuel can carry and it falls out in a BIG glop cloging the filter (Phase separtion)


Tommays

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: The Battle is On

Yeh! stabil is to help stop the fuel from oxidization.or rotting be sure to run your engine after putting it in so that it is in your carbs .

 

[Texasmark]

Re: The Battle is On

Dingbat, my man, that's perfect. Many thanks......and since it has been tweaked for authenticity (errors noted in the original publication, hence this correction), it should be accurate.

Was amazed at the time period for saturation of the different gasolines and the amounts of water to saturate.
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I hate to watch a football game and have a sports caster tell me what I just saw, or listen to a presidential debate and have the same thing occur, but I have a couple of comments.
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On the comment about filling a tank (empty) with 100 degree air at 100% relative humidity and sealing the tank. Then taking the tank to 40F and getting condensation.

There are your criteria. We know what water condenses out of the air on cold surfaces, but to get that water in your tank you have to ingest it at some time and retain it. So, if you choose to store your tank empty for the season, remove the moist air and seal the tank......assuming the only water came via saturated air. With no moist air, there is nothing to condense on the cold walls of the tank. So a heat gun ought to be able to produce very low humidity air and blow out the saturated air.

Also, when the northers (cold fronts) come in, if dry, the air is cool and humidity low as the cool air can't store as much water as warm air can. So, if nothing else, fill your empty tank with cold dry air, via your hairdryer with the heat off or some other crafty way you may dream up.
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On long term storage full of fuel, per their comments there, we have to depend on the stabil or whatever product to do it's thing, which many have responded to have had pleasant results with periods being up to 2 years.

So I guess you can do what you want and it will work, just do something. Grin

Mark

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: The Battle is On

Right on texmark